Clutch mechanism



May 8, 1928. l 1,669,006

H. L. JOHNSTON CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed July 2, 1925 5 sheets-shew l A .D A

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INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

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H. L.. JOHNSTON CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed July 2. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JM 161 WML A TTORNEYS.

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H. L. JOHNSTON CLUTCH MECHANISM May 8, 1928.l

Filed July 2, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 2% n f-@ZW E Y.. llifll www Patented May `8, 1928. n.

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lunrris-n STATES/PATENT oFF-ier..

HERBERT-IJ. JOHNSTON, 0F TROY, OHIO, .ASSIGN'OR 'TO THE HOBART MANUFACTUR- i ING COMPANY, OFTROY, OHIO, .A CORPORATION 'OF OHIO.

Application filed July 2,

This invention relates to an improved type of clutch mechanism.

One of the principal objects 'of the inven- Ation is to provide a clutch which is so con-` structed that the members thereof may be i moved into position for full engagement regardless of the relative positioning of these members and regardless of whether these members are moving or stationary.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clutch which is effective anddepcndable in operation, simple and sturdy linconstruction and in which ready and full engagement of the clutch members will always be secured, thus insuring` long life.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description set out below when taken Iin connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing in which like characters of reference designate likeparts throughout the several views thereof,

Fig. 1 isa vertical sectional view of a. clutch constructed in accordance with this invention, with the driven member of the clutch in retracted position, the view being substantially along the line 1 1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an end'elevation of this clutch, viewed from theright of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 -isa vertical sectional view, similar to Fig. 1, with the driven member positioned for movement into engagement with the driving member, but with the teeth held out of engagement, because of the relative angular positioning ofthe two clutch members; i

4 is a cross sectional View, along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view'similar to Figs l and 3, 'with ,the driven member in .full engagement with the driving member;

Fig. 6 is a view, in the nature of, a per-' spective view, of a cam ring which onstitutes onezelement ofthe mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a view, in the nature of a perspec- 5 tive, of the tooth or dogv carrying member which constitutes a part of the driving member of the clutch, and

Fig. 8 isasimilar View of the tooth or dog carrying member which constitutes a part of the driven clutch member.

This clutch Wasparti'cularly designed for use in connection with anv apparatus in which a colegrinder and a meat grinder are both driven by the same motor; but it other relationship. In

yferred to it is 4desirable to have the apparatus 1923. Serial No. 649,011,

is vof course capable-of general use in any t e relationship reso arranged that the coffee grinder and meat grinder need not 'both .be operated at the same time. W'here an ordinary type clutch is used in connection with such apparatus dilliculties in operation are encountered.

`F or example, if the two clutch members come to rest in any other than the proper angular relationship for meshing, or engagement, of the teeth or dogs thereon, then the two clutch members may not be caused to engage without manipulation. And if an attempt is made to cause `engagement of the clutch members at a time when the motor is operating, as will quite generally happen w-hen it is necessary to use the meat grinder, for instance, when the coffee grinder is already being operated, then difficulty lis encountered `in securing-proper engagement of the teeth `of the clutch members. And where such engagement is accomplished full engagement of the teeth is seldom secured, and furthermore chipping or marring of the teeth occurs.

The clutch which forms the subject matter of this invention is adapted, particularly, to obviate these two stated objections, and .is generally avery efficient, compact, rugged type of mechanism.

As shown in the drawing the clutch mechanismis mounted in a suitable opening in the wall 10, which constitutes the end jwall of the gear casing, within which are housed .the driving ears through which motion is transmitted rom the motor, or other power source, to the driving member of the clutch. Mounted within this wall 10 is a hollow vcylindrical sleeve 11 which has a cylindrical enlargement 12 thereon, the inner end of the sleeve 11 extending intov the gear case and havin rotatably mounted thereon the gear 13, w ich. gear Iin turn meshes with a driving pinion, carried on the shaft ofA the operating 1motor or driven in any otherv sui-tpassageway through the hollow cylindrical sleeve 11, the extension being preferabl circular in cross section to correspond wit the lOl y contour of said passageway, and permit unlwithin the said passageway.

`ated with the clutch.

impeded rotation ot' the extension and dogs,

' The projection carrying these teeth 16 maybe made integral with the plate 15 butl preferably it is made separate and is held firmly connected thereto by means oit' suitable bolts 17. As clearly shown in Fig. 7 the end face ot' each of the teeth 16 is given a concave'curvature, over substantially half oi its extent, the plane of said curved face being inclined, generally, at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the projection or of the driving clutch member, the face or shoulder 18 of each tooth 16 constituting the operating face thereof. Attached to the enlargement '12, ot' the cylindrical sleeve 11 is a closure and socket member 25, which is held rigidly connected to the enlargement 12 by means of bolts 26. This member 25 is provided with a tapered socket 27, adapted to receive an extension or shank on the body of the meat grinder, or other apparatus to be operatively associ- This socket member is provided with a smaller socket 28, adapted to receive a pin or projection on the mechanism associated therewith to hold that mechanism against rotation during operation. The socket member 25 is provided with a threaded assage 29 within which is positioned a tiumb screw 30 the lower end of which is pointed, the point of this screw bcing adapted to extend into a correspondingly tapered socket in the extension of the meat rinder, so that when the screw is tightened 1t Will tend to pull the tapered extension of the meat grinder tightly in place within the tapered socket 27, and will also tend to prevent rotation of the meat grinder during operation of the device.

The end of the member 25 which contacts With the cooperating end of the enlargement 12 is provided with a circular extension 31, which extends into the enlarged passageway 32 which is an enlarged continuation of the passageway within the cylindrical sleeve 11. This extension 31 is cut away to provide a 'recess 33. Positioned Within this recess is a washer 34, preferably of vulcanized liber, or the like, against which rests a cylindrical hollowl driven member 39, the passage 40 extending therethrough being preferably square in cross section, to receive at one end the squared end of the shaft of the meat grinder or other apparatus to be operated,

`and at the other end to receive the squared shank of the tooth bearing member 41, which has suitable clutch teeth 42, extending therefrom and spaced apart by a transverse groove, these, clutch teeth being adapted for cooperation with the clutch teeth 16- and,-i forming in eect a diametrically disposed ridge across the face of the member 41 adapted to lie within the diametrically disposed groove in the member) 15 when the clutch members are in engaged position.

Suitably mounted Within the passageway 40 is a plate .45, against which rests one end of the spring 46, the 4other end pressing against the tooth bearing member 41. The member 41 has a socket 47 therein within which the spring 46 lies, and the arrangement is such that at all times, when the device is assembled, the spring 46 is under compression tending to move the driven member 39 and the tooth bearing member 41 apart, and as the driven member 39 .is constrained against movement, under the vaction of the spring, because of its contact with the washer' 34, the -action of the spring .is to at all times urge the tooth bearing member 41 toward a position' in which the teeth on. that member will engage with the teeth 16.

Slidably mounted upon the member 39 is a cylindrical sleeve 50, one end of which is provided with an inturned flange 51, adapted to cooperate with the tooth bearing member/41. This sleeve is provided with a slot 52, through which extends a pin 53, mounted in the driven member 39, so that while longitudinal movement of the sleeve relative to the member 39 iscpermitted, rotatable movement of these two parts relative to each other is prevented. Slidably mounted upon the outside of the sleeve 5() is a, cam ring 55, which, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6, is provided with two cam surfaces 56, on one face of the ring, the other face of the ring being plane and adapted for contact with the outturned flange 57, upon the sleeve 50. The sleeve 11 is provided with two lugs or extensions which cooperate with the cam surfaces 56 ot' the ring 55, so that upon rotation of this ring in one direction it will be positively moved longitudinally ol the sleeve 50, will contact with the flange 57 and will positively move the vsleeve 50, against the tension of the spring 46, along the driven member 39, while upon rotation in the opposite direction 'reverse movement of the sleeve 50, under the action of the spring 46, will occur. These lugs "or extensions may be preferably they are in vthe form of pms 60, which are removably mounted within the passage tion permits ready removal of the pins in case of needed replacement due to wearf.

The camring is provided with an operating handle 65, the innerend of which is threadedly mounted within the cam ring, while the outer end is shaped to provide a practical, and at the same time attractive looking, handle. Midway of its length this vhandle Vis provided with lan enlargement 66, which contacts with the cover 67, placed over the slot 68 which permits movement of the handle to effect that rotation of the cam ring 61, in the lsleeve 11. This construcl cam ring v If the driving member of theclutch is not which is needed yfor operation. This enlarglement covers the `Vseat in the cover 67 wit in which the handle 65 moves during r0- tation of the cam ring.

As shown particularly in Fig. 8, the end faces of' thekl teeth 42 are curved somewhat as'are the end faces of the teeth' 16, being defined by concave planes. these curvedsurfaces being also arranged generally m a plane inclined to the longitudinal axis of the member 41. The face or shoulder 70, of each of the teeth 42, constitutes the driving face thereof, each of the faces 70, during operation of the clutch contacting with one of the faces 18. I

As is evident from the drawing the turned over flange 51 and the member 41 will continuously Contact,l since the arrangement is such that the spring 4G is always under compression. When'the cam ring 55 is rotated to cause bodilytranslation of that ring, it

will contact with the flange 57, and under continued rotation,will move that flange, and the sleeve upon whichfit is mounted, to

the right, carrying the member 41 with it,

andat the end of such rotated motion the flange 57 will contact with the washer 34, with the teeth 42 held completely out of engaging position. As soon as the cam is rotated in the opposite direction, however, the compression ofthe spring will cause the member 41 to move to the lett, toward engaging position, carrying the sleeve 50, and

` 55, therewith.

in operatiomat that time, but is stationary, and the members of the clutch happen to be in such angular position that the teeth 42 and 16 are in an engaging position, then under-the action of the spring these two sets of teeth will be caused to fully engage, as shown in Fig. 5. The same operation'would take place with any clutch, .where'the'two lclutch membersare both stationary land both relatively positioned for full engagement of the teeth. g But if they do nothappen to be in engaged position, with the ordinary-type of clutch, it is impossible to make them mesh or to move them into such position-thatlthey will properly' enga e when 'operation of the members is not` secured, that is, they are not positively kforced into' mesh and so if they appen to be out of engaging position,"as

shown in Fig. .3, the cam rlng may still `be rotated completelyto the right, where it ma assume the osition shown in full lines. in tig. 4, in whic case it offers no resistancef to lthe free movement of the sleeve 50 and member 41 under the actionof the spring. But, as shown nal Fig. 3, under' this relative 4.positioning of the members the member cannot advance, to engaging position, while. .the clutch members are 'stationary'. soon as the driving member begins to rotate, however, the teeth. 16 will move with reference to the'teeth`42, the rotation bein in the di. rection of the arrow in Fig. 7. rotate the curved end faces ot the'two coop'- erating sets of teeth will permit gradual advancement of the member 41, und r the ac'- 'tion ot the spring, so that after substantially 90 degrees angular rotation of the driving member athe teeth 42 will have beenadvancec to full engaging depth and thefaces 70 will r then contact with the faces 18. e

And of course this construction is 'very 'beneticial when an attempt is made to cause engagement of the clutch members while the ldriving member is rotating. Under such Circumstances, clashing of the teeth will not occur, and full depth engagement will be secured, regardless of the relative positioning of the two clutch members at the time an engagement is effected. Because of the s the teeth 42to full engaging depth, regardless ofthe rela-tive positioning at the time the cam ring is rotated to l Any suita le abutment, other than -thev disc 45, may be used, but the construction vshown is'very satisfactory, both with regard to 'ease and simplicity of manufacture, and

uo permit the engaging movement. fr

effectiveness. Thedisc 45 ispreferably of,

copper, or the like, and before it is inserted in place it is firstcupped or givenfa cone l shape, after which it is inserted vintothe passageway within: the member 39, after which it is flattened out, so that the edges extend into the groove 75. r

While the form-of ap aratus herein described constitutes a preiierred embodiment of the invention, it. is to understood that the invention is not limit d to this precise ,form of apparatus, and that changes may-be lll() made' therein ywithout departing V:from the scope of the 'invention w the appended claims.

e What is claimed is 1. A high speed clutch, of the character described, comprising a driving, member and a driven member, cooperating teeth on ich is defined in said members; means for positively moving clutch is. begun. ith the Ydevicev shown herein where positive'meshing of the clutchone of said members away frbn the other.; and -yieldable means associated Wlth one of said' members tending to urge. the teethv tatably mounted on said supportand having teeth thereon driven` member rotatably the clutch-members turn deseribeda support, a drivingmember romounted on said support, a tooth carrying ofthe slot facing each vdriving shoulder bemember slidably mounted on said driven ing cut away alon aline sloping from the member, a spring interposed between said' top level of the driving shoulder to the botdriven member and the tooth carrying memtom of the slot. ber, and tending to normally slide the saidJ 6. A clutch mechanism of the character two members in opposite directions, the said described comprising driving and driven spring being at all times under compression; clutch members in alignment with y one and means for positively moving the tooth another and supported for rotation about carrying member away from the driving a common axis, one of said clutch ineiiibei's member, the construction being suchI as to having a diametrically disposed slot formed insure full depth engagement at all times. in the end'thereof to provide offset upright 3. A clutch of the character described driving shoulders on the clutch member` the comprising a driving member, havingteeth wall of theslot facing each driving shoulder thereon; a hollow driven member; a. longibeing cu-t away along a line sloping from tudinally movable sleeve mounted on4 said the top level vof the driving shoulder to the driven member, a circular flange on said bottom of the slot, 4and the other of said sleeve, a cam ring slidably mounted on said clutch members being provided with a pair sleeve, a cam surface cooperating with saidof clutch-teeth having upright driving faces cam ring, the construction beingsuch that adapted to engage the driving faces of the when the cam ring is rotated to coact with clutch teeth on the first clutch member and the said cam surface bodily movement of the in a ,direction transverse to the slot formed ring will be effected to bring that ring into therein. contact with the said circular ange and 7. A clutch of the character described cause corresponding movement of the said ,comprising .a driving member, a. tooth o sleeve; atooth carrying member slidably said member having a driving face arrange mounted within said hollow driven member, substantially parallel to a pl'ai'ie passing an inturned flange carried by said movable through the axis of rotation of said driving sleeve and cooperating with the said tooth member, and to one side of said axially ar'- carrying member; and a spring interposed ranged plane, said tooth extending substanbetween the said hollow driven member and tially across the'rsaid driving member;.and the tooth carrying member to urge the said being cut" awayY throughout substantially tooth carrying member at all times against half its extent, to provide 'a curved, 'generthe said inturned ilange; and an operating ally inclined end face for said cut away porhandle on said cam ring whereby rotation tion; a driven member, having a tooth therethereof to effect movement of the said mov' on provided with a lat drivin face, ar-y able sleeve and tooth carrying member ranged in aplane substantially parallel to against the resistance of the said spring may a plane passing through the axis of rot-ation be eected. of the said driven member, and arranged' to 4. A clutch of the character described comone side of said axially arranged plane, said prising a driving member having teeth tooth being cut away through asubstantial thereon; a driven member having teeth portion offits extent, to provide a curved thereon; means for positively moving said end face, the said tooth being so arranged members away from each other; and spring that when the flat end face thereof coopermeans for moving said members toward each -ates with the flat face of the. tooth on the other and into drivingengagement; the opdriving member, the cooperating teeth will posin' end faces of the said teeth being be arranged at substantially right angles to curv and generally inclined, the construceach other, and means, including as spring, tion being such that forward movement ofv for moving the drivingaiid driven members the teeth, on the driven member, under the relative to each other to effect engagement of action of the said spring means, willv take .the 'two saidcteetln the construction being place during a substantial period of rotation such that full depth engagement of the said of the sai driving mechanism, to permit teeth will be insured, irrespective of the relfull advancement of the said teeth on the ativepositioning of tlietwo clutch members driven member to insure full engagement of at .the time the engaging movement takes the 4cooperating teeth -on the two clutch place. members. x 8. A clutch mechanism comprising clutch 5. clutch mechanism of the character members .disposed for end-to-end engagedesciibed comprising driving` and driven ment with one another, said members havclutch members in alignment with one ing on their cooperating end faces a diaanother .and supported for movement into metrically disposed groove and a diametrior out of driving connection with each other, cally disposed ridge respectively, said one of said clutch members having a dia.- groove and said ridge each presentingA of opposedv shoulders the opposite ortions of said pairs. of opposed constituting upright driving metrically disposed slot formed in the end pairs thereof to 'provide ofset upright driving end shoulders on the said clutch member, the wall shoul ers faces, and the ends of said shoulders opposed to said driving `faces being cut away to facilitate fulldepth engagement of the driving faces of said 'clutch members. i'

e 9.l A clutch mechanism comprising clutch members disposed for end-to-endengagement with 011e another, said membcrs'having on their cooperating end faces "a diametrically disposed groove and a diametrically disposed ridge respectively, said groove and said `ridge each presenting pairs of opposed shouldersthe opposite end portions of said pairs of opposed shoulders constituting upright diving"faces,'the ends of said shoulders'opposed \to said driving y faces being cut away to facilitate full depth engagement 4oi" the driving faces of said clutch members, and rsaid ridge being fur- Y ther cut away to provide a groove transverse to its length-to separate the driving faces thereof from the cut away portions of said shoulders.

10. A clutch of the character described comprising a stationary supporting sleeve having alongitudinal bore therethrough, first and second clutch members within said bore and havin clutch teeth thereon adapted to be move into` engagement-with one another, a rotary gear member surrounding and mounted upon said supporting sleeve and operatively connected with said first clutch member, said gear overlying the zone.

of engagement of said clutch members, and means carried by the 'suf ort for controlling-'theengagement of sai clutch members.

114..A `clutch of the character described comprising a driving member, a driven member, 'said driving member and said `drivenmember having cooperating contacting surfaces and cooperatlng driving surfaces, said contacting surfaces being mclinedwith respect tothe direction of'engaging movement of the said `members' relative. to each other, and control means for 'effecting engagement of said members comprising yieldable means toward each other and into driving engagement, said cooperating contacting surfaces and driving surfaces`being` so constructed as to permit progressive relative advancement of said membersl toward eachother during an initial period of relative rotation after said control means is moved to engagement effecting position.to effect substantially full `depth engagementof said members. l

12.A A fclutch of the character described comprising a driving member, having teeth thereon; a driven member having teeth thereon; means for positively moving said members away fromv each other; and sprin means vfor moving said members toW'ar each other 'and into driving engagement,

the opposing end faces of the said teeth being curved -to permit relative movement of said members toward each other during the initial period of relative rotation after the positively operated means is moved to clutch engaging position to permit'substantially full .deptlnengagement of the teeth. v`

In testimony whereof hereto aix my signature.

HERBERT L. JOHNSTON. 

